Joseph trent



2 Sheets- -Sheet 1.

J. TRENT. Means for Propelling Vessels.

Patented Oct. 12,1880.

NJEIERS. PHOTO-UTHDGRAHER. WASHINGTON. DC

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

- J. TRENT.

Means for Propelling Vessels.

No." 233,127. Patented Oct. 12,1880.

NJETERS. HIOTO-UTHOQMPHER. WASHXNGTOM D. C

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH TRENT, OF GREENVILLE, NEW JERSEY.

MEANS FOR PROPELLING VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 233,127, dated October 12, 1880.

n Application filed February 17, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, J OSEPH TRENT, of Greenville, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Propelling Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention consists in the combination, with a vessel, of oscillating propellers arranged at the stern thereof and means for raising and lowering the trunnions thereof relatively to the vessel, whereby they may be adjusted to suit the vessel at different drafts.

It also consists in the combination, with a vessel, of an oscillating propeller or propellers, a bracket or brackets suspending the same, ways wherein the bracket or brackets may be adjusted, and a rack and pinion or racks and pinions, whereby the bracket or brackets and propeller or propellers may be raised or lowered relatively to the vessel, whereby the adjustment of the propellers may be conveniently efi'ected.

It also consists in the combination, with an oscillating propeller for a vessel, of a bucket supported in guides in said propeller and capable of adjustment in said guides, a pulley in the shank of the propeller, and tackle connected with the bucket and passing over said pulley to afford provision for raising and lowerin g the bucket.

It also consists in the combination, with a vessel, of an oscillating propeller, a bracket supporting the trunnions thereof and provided with a rack, a pinion for adjusting said bracket vertically, a longitudinally-adjustable bucket supported in guides in said propeller, a tackle for raising saidbucket, and a pin, bolt, or other device for securing it in different positions.

It also consists in an oscillating propeller for avessel, having a bucket composed of two vertically-hinged sections, each of which comprises vertically-oscillat-ing slats, which close to form the acting-surface of the bucket and which open to permit the passage of water through the bucket. The several slats of each section are preferably connected together at one edge by a rod, which is connected to the frame of the propeller by a link, so as to effect the automatic opening of the slats as the sections swing upon their hinges.

It also consists in combinations of parts and features hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a view of the stern of a vessel or boat having my improved propellers attached thereto. Fig. 2 represents a partly-sectional plan thereof. Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal section through a portion of the stern of such vessel and a side view of one of said propellers and appurtenances. Fig. 4 represents a vertical section through one of the propellers and appurtenances upon a larger scale; and Fig. 5 represents a horizontal section through the lower portion of such propeller, also upon a larger scale.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

E designates the oscillating propellers, of which one is here represented as arranged upon each side of the stern-post, and which are supported upon trunnions F, so as to permit of swinging or oscillating freely back and forth.

D designates the shank of the propeller, through which power is transmitted from any suitable operating mechanism, and which extends upward from the trunnions F, and is provided at its upper end with a lug or eye, 0, for connecting operating mechanism thereto. At their lower portions the propellers E are widened so as to receive and hold the buckets G, which consist of bucket-frames comprising hinged or oscillating slats H.

In order to enable the paddles to move easily through the water on their return stroke, the buckets G of each propeller are composed of two sections hinged together by means of a rod, J, passing through lugs I. When the propellers move outward the buckets Grand slats H are closed by the action of the water, so as to present a solid surface to act on the water; but when the propellers move inward the buckets are swung outward, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

In order to insure the positive opening of the slats H as the propellers move back, Iconnect the slats of each section of each bucket to a rod, 0, and I connect one end of said rod by a radius-link, g, to the frame of the propeller at h. When the buckets are so constructed a very slight movement of the propeller on its return stroke serves to open all the slats H, and hence the propeller is impeded but little in its return-stroke bythe action of the water, and,furthermore,a very short stroke serves to close the buckets aml render them active.

The propellers E should be capable of being adjusted vertically to suit the draft of a vessel either whenloaded or empty. the ditfercnce in draft being very considerable in some vessels-a canalboat, for example, when loaded, drawing six feet of water, and when empty one and a halt feet. In order to remler the propellers capable of such adjustment, I have shown the supports or bearings for the trunnions F of each propeller as projecting from a bracket, B, which is titted in ways or guides in a plate or frame, attached to the stern of the vessel, and which may be raised or lowered in said ways or guides to suit the draft of the vessel.

Any desirable means may be employed for raising aml lowering the brackets i, aml with them the propellers ll. As here represented, each bracket has lixed upon it a rack, it, and extending across the stern of the vessel is a shaft, S, upon which are tixed pinions l, which engage with said racksand impart tothe brackets Bthedesired movement,either upor down.

The shaft S may be rotated by any desired means, and suitable devices may be employed for holding the brackets ii in proper position after adjustment.

AS an alternative or additional device for adjusting the operative surface of the propellers vertically, I may construct the buckets G so as to be capable of vertical adjustmentinthe propellers l1. .\s here represented, the propellers are provided at thcirlower portions with guides or ways a h, embracing the frames of the buckets ti, and said guides or ways are connected at their lower ends by a cross-bar, f, to prevent their spreading.

The rod J extends upward from each bucket G, and is held in guides K in the propellers. and has an eye, I. at the top, to which is cote nected atackle, which passes over a pulley, N, and constitutes means for raising the rod .I and its attached bucket.

The propellers are each furnished with several bosses, M, in which are holes, and the rods J have near their upper ends eyes L.

The rod J and bucket (i may be adjusted so that the eye L colnes opposite one of the holes in the bosses )1, and there secured by insei ting a pin or bolt through said eye and boss.

By my invention I produce an oscillating propeller which is so constructed as to meet with very little resistance from the action of the water in its return-stroke, and is readily rendered active for its operating-stroke, and also one which maybe readily adjusted to suit the draft of the vessel, whether it be loaded or empty.

What I claim as my invention,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, with a. vessel, ofoscillatin g propellers arranged at the stern thereofla. bracket supporting the trunnions thereof, and means for raising the same vertically relatively to the vessel, whereby the leverage of the propellers always remains the same.

2. The combination, with a vessel, of an oscillatin g propeller or propellers, a bracket or brackets suspending the same, ways wherein the bracket or brackets may be adjusted, and a rack aml pinion or racks and pinions, whereby the bracket or brackets and propeller or propellers may be raised or lowered relatively to the vessel.

5'. The combination, with an oscillating propeller for a vessel, of a. bucket supported in guides in said propeller and capable of adjustment in said guides, a pulley in the shank of the propeller, and tackle connected with the bucket and passing over said pulley to afiord provision for raising and lowering the bucket.

4. The combination with a vessel, of an oscillating propeller, a racket supporting the trmmions thereof and provided with a rack, a pinion for adjusting said bracket vertically,a longitudinally-adjustable bucket supported iit guides in said propeller, a tackle for raising aml lowering said bucket, and a pin, bolt, or other device for securing it in ditferent positions.

5. An oscillating propeller for a vessel, having a bucket composed of two vertically-hinged sections, each of which comprises vertical oscillating slats, which close to form the actingsurt'ace ot' the bucket, but which open to permit the passage of water through the bucket.

ti. An oscillating propeller fora vessel, having a bucket composed of two vertically-hinged sections, each of which comprises vertical oscillating slats, a rod connected to the edges of the slats of each section, and a radius-link connecting said rod with the frame of the propeller, whereby the slats are adjusted by the opening and closing of the hinged sections.

JOSEPH TRENT. \\'itnesses:

(HANDLER HALL, 'luoMAs l). BIRCH. 

